Mathison: “Jackson Racing Academy deal is perfect for me…”

DALEY Mathison says he can’t wait for 2018 after inking a deal with Jackson Racing.

The North East roads favourite has been champing at the bit to talk publicly about his new deal for a few weeks now, in which he will take his own BMWs along with his Eddie Stobart backing to the Jackson Racing Academy.

Under the deal, the two-time TT Zero podium finisher will continue to field the distinctive Eddie Stobart livery, but will do so under the Jackson Racing banner.

Mathison will take the distinctive Eddie Stobart livery with him as he joins the Jackson Racing camp…

Together, they plan to contest all of the major road racing events – TT, Ulster GP, Northwest 200 and some Oliver’s Mount rounds, along with a number of Superstock 1000 races with the British Superbike Championship.

“It’s the perfect deal for me, I’m so happy to have secured this deal, especially with a team as strong and successful as this,” he told UK Clubsport at Motorcycle Live.

“It’s been hard keeping quiet about it, but thankfully it’s now out there, and I can get on with getting myself ready for the new season.”

The new signing means that Mathison can finally take his foot off the gas a little bit – at least when it comes to working around the clock to make the racing happen.

Along with his full time job, he has always had to build, prepare and transport his bikes to the track himself, which has left little time for any normal down time with wife, Nat, and daughter Daisy-Blu.

Now, however, he can worry about the important task of riding, and being the family man he loves to be.

“I don’t have to worry about preparing the bikes, I don’t have to worry about getting them to the track and then working on them at the track,” he explained.

“I’m going to be part of a professional set up, with mechanics, a crew chief, data analysis…it means I can concentrate on the riding, and that’s what it is all about.

“I’ve had to work so hard on my own up to now. I’ve had an amazing team of guys working with me at the track, but I’ve had to work very long hours to get the bike prepared.

“I’d be going to work, popping home to see Daisy and Nat before Daisy goes to bed then over to the workshop to work on the bikes. I’d be getting home at three in the morning, getting a few hours of sleep and then getting up and doing it all again.

“Now I’ve not got that pressure, and I think it will make such a huge difference to my results and to my quality of life off-track. It’s a fantastic opportunity and I’m delighted that Alan (Jackson) has given me this chance. I want to be able to repay him and the team by getting them the results they deserve.”

Mathison is joined in the Jackson Racing fold by up-and-comer Craig Neve, who scored his best finish last year on a privateer ZX6R with 14th in the first Monster Energy Supersport TT race this year.